"Ty Drago - Bitter Reflections" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drago Ty)

"It seemed to work. I saw nothing of my reflection. Of course, I could no longer leave the
safety of my bed chamber, having instead to conduct business over the phone. It was a
temporary, imperfect solution. But it worked... for a while.
"Then, this evening, as I worked at my desk, I heard a voice... that voice... for the first time in
almost two weeks. 'Larry....'

"I spun around in my chair, cursing madly. Of course, I was alone in the room. I stood,
glancing all around, trying to convince myself that I was hearing things.

"'It's time, Larry.'
"Against the far wall, I spotted the grandfather clock, its swinging brass pendulum counting
off the moments. Glass covered its ornate face and narrower counter-weights box. I thought I
saw movement, reflected in the light from the desk top lamp. I took a heavy marble
paperweight from the desk and approached it, ready to smash the offending glass to
ribbons at the first sign of 'life'.

"'I've waited SO long.'
"There it was! That face... my face, grinning out at me in the glass, the dark hands of the
clock visible through its features. I wailed and hurled the paperweight at the image.
"But as the projectile reached its target, a hand, bearing a signet ring... MY signet ring,
reached out of the smooth glass of the pendulum case and caught the paperweight,
snatching it neatly from the air. I staggered back, my eyes locked on those of my reflection.

"'Not this time, Larry.'

"'Go away!' I screamed. But the mirror man only grinned, his hand still holding the
paperweight. Then he pressed forward against his side of glass, and began to step through,
his skin solidifying as it crossed some unimaginable threshold.

"I retreated until my back was against the desk, my hands scrambling for a weapon. There
was none. 'Dickerson!' I screamed, uncertain if the old man could even hear me. Usually his
evenings were spent in the kitchen, supervising dinner.
"I glanced quickly toward the closed chamber door. As I did, out of the corner of my eye, I
saw the mirror man's face go slack. An instant later he seemed to be sucked back into the
surface of the glass, as though whatever force was powering his freedom had been
suddenly cut off. The paperweight clattered to the floor.
"Then I finally understood. It was eye contact. Without that, his power waned. With
tremendous effort, I pulled my attention completely from the clock and ran toward the
chamber door, my hand closing around the knob. 'Dickerson!' I called again.

"From somewhere beyond the door, down the hall, I heard his voice; distant and yet as
welcome as salvation itself. 'Yes sir! I'm coming!'

"I tried to turn the knob, but as I did, I felt something move beneath my hand. I glanced down,
and instantly five fingers burst forth from the smooth, polished brass, intertwining with my
own. I screamed and pulled away, but that bizarre, bodiless hand held me firm. From
somewhere inside the knob I heard laughter.
"'It's time, Larry! It's finally time!'